Galapagos Active Backpacker

In the afternoon your Galapagos Adventure begins!

Accompanied by an English speaking surf instructor you will receive a short theory class to learn about safety, the rules of surf, tides, currents, types of waves, and the different parts of the board and accessories. Now you are ready for the practical surf lesson, where we teach you how to position yourself on the board, how to stand on it, how to catch a wave, read their movement, and practise different moves on your board. Our specialized surf guides are certified with ISA (International Surf Association), and they are also certified lifeguards. Are you already experienced – let us know in advance & we will take you for a fun surfing afternoon!

Today you will visit one of the most famous dive sites at the Galapagos islands – Kicker Rock! Some people see this rock formation as a frog, others see it as a sleeping lion, hence the name ¨Leon Dormido¨ in Spanish. During snorkeling you may see a variety of tropical fish, sea turtles, and if lucky even sharks. Black tipped reef shark and hammerhead shark are often found in this area. You will do two immersions in different places around the Kicker Rock. After diving there is time to visit a beautiful white sand beach on the north west side of San Cristobal for free time. Arriving back to port in the afternoon, you can enjoy the rest of the day strolling the boardwalk, sipping cocktails, or relaxing with a stunning sunset at Playa Mann.

A fun morning on your own Stand Up Paddleboard. We launch our SUPs from the Playa Mann and start making our way paddling towards Las Tijeretas. The waters are perfectly clear so you can admire the tropical fish, sea lions, rays, sea turtles and other marine life as we paddle along the northern coast of San Cristobal island. On the rocks at Las Tijeretas we have the opportunity to get close to frigate birds and blue footed boobies. In the afternoon, you ́ll take the speedboat to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island.

Next on the program is an exhilirating biking trip to explore the highlands of Santa Cruz. We begin by car up to the Twin Craters – Los Gemelos in Spanish - a couple of Volcanic sink holes. This area is wet and humid, regularly covered by clouds and mist, covered with rich vegetation. The craters are aprox 1 mile in diameter, and have short walking trails to discover the unique flore and fauna, such as Darwin Finches, Flycatchers etc. From this point we jump onto our bikes to descent 8km to Las Primicias Ranch.

No Galapagos trip would be complete without seeing the Giant Galapagos Tortoise up close in its natural habitat, where they roam the lush highlands searching for food, or cooling off in the muddy pools. Wander the trails while your guide explains interesting facts about these gentle giants. There is also a 400 m long lava tunnel that you can enter and walk inside. Back on the bike, we descent all the way from Santa Rosa back to Puerto Ayora – enjoying a fun 17 km trail through the highlands with beautiful views along the way. In the late afternoon, you can enjoy free time for souvenir shopping at the excellent boutiques in Puerto Ayora town, as well as superb dining & nightlife.

Today you have the opportunity to discover one of the uninhabited islands on a navigable excursion. The tour includes a guided hike on the island and some time for snorkeling, with lunch on board the yacht. The exact destination depends upon daily availability, but will be one of the following options:

Bartolome: the site of the iconic Galapagos landscape of Pinnacle Rock, where you can take your perfect photo. You do have to climb 364 steps to get here, but the reward is immense. Along the way you can see lava fumaroles, and enjoy the incredible lunar style landscape. With a bit of luck, you may also see the world´s only tropical penguin here! After the land visit, you´ll have time to explore the amazing underwater wildlife while snorkeling.

North Seymour: One of the best islands for Galapagos birdlife, where you can see Frigate Birds, swallow tailed gulls and the famous Blue Footed Boobies who nest here. With red colored soil and red carpet vine growing on the island the scenery is exotic. Another interesting species found on North Seymour is the Land Iguana, a unique species from the ones seen on other islands.

South Plazas: This small but scenic island has a fantastic concentration of wildlife, from Sea Lions to Land Iguana´s and many bird species, including Frigate Birds, Lava Gulls and Red-Billed Tropicbirds. The dramatic cliffs, blue seas and spectacular natural red-carpet of algae make the scenery of this island particularly pretty.

Santa Fe: A very diverse island with a beautiful white sand beach where Sea Lions bask in the sun. The island is covered with huge cactus trees, food for the Land Iguana population that is endemic to this Santa Fe. The walk up is quite rocky buy you´ll be rewarded with stunning views at the top. Santa Fe is also considered one of the best snorkeling sites in Galapagos where sharks are often seen!

End of the Tour